What is Metrological Traceability ?

Wisconsin Metrology Laboratory

3601 Galleon Run
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 224-4910
DATCPMetrologyLab@wisconsin.gov

October 2, 2017
WWMA, Stevens Point, WI
Why do I care?
…cont’d
WI State Legislature, Chapter 98 “Weights and Measures”
98.03 State standards; specifications and tolerances.
98.03(1)(1) Weights and measures obtained by the state
as standards and certified for use as such by the national
institute of standards and technology shall be the state
standards of weight and measure. They shall be in the
custody of the department and shall be used only for
verification of other standards.
98.03(2) (2) The department may issue rules governing
the construction, installation, and use of commercial
weights and measures and prescribing tolerances therefor.
The specifications, tolerances, and regulations for
commercial weighing and measuring devices issued by the
national institute of standards and technology shall apply
in this state except as modified by such rules or by statute.
Metrological Traceability defined as…
Defined by International Vocabulary of Metrology – Basic
and General Concepts and Associated Terms, VIM, 3rd ed.
• (2.41) metrological traceability: property of a measurement
result whereby the result can be related to a reference through
a documented unbroken chain of calibrations, each
contributing to the measurement uncertainty.
• (2.42) metrological traceability chain: traceability chain
sequence of measurement standards and calibrations that is
used to relate a measurement result to a reference
• (2.43) metrological traceability to a measurement unit:
metrological traceability where the reference is the definition
of a measurement unit through its practical realization.
• Note: The expression “traceability to the SI” means ‘metrological traceability to
a measurement unit of the International System of Units (SI)
In simple terms,
Metrological Traceability is a direct link between a SI Base Units
• Kilogram, (kg)
result of a measurement made in the field and a result
-mass
of the best possible measurement made in a calibration • Meter, (m)
laboratory. -length
It ensures that different measurement methods and • Mole (mol)
instruments used in different countries at different -amount of a
substance
times produce reliable, repeatable, reproducible, • Second (s)
compatible and comparable measurement results. -Time
• Ampere (A)
When a measurement result is metrologically traceable, -electric current
it can be confidently linked to the internationally- • Kelvin (K)
accepted measurement references. -thermodynamic
temperature
• Candela (cd)
-luminous intensity
 Now what?!
After NIST or a NIST traceable laboratory
calibrates the artifact it is returned to the facility
that submitted it with a certificate of calibration.
Establish and maintain traceability
• Even before a transfer artifact is calibrated
against a national standard, quality programs
should be in place to assure on a continuing basis
a level of accuracy that will satisfy the
requirements imposed by all users.
•Once it has been demonstrated, the standard can
be used as the centerpiece of a measurement
quality program to transfer the units to end
users.
WI Certificate of Metrological Traceability

https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures/resources/state-laboratories
Seven (7) Essential Elements of
Metrological Traceability
1. Unbroken chain of comparisons
2. Documented Measurement Uncertainty
Measurement
3. Documented Procedures Assurance
Unbroken Chain Documentation
4. Accredited Technical Competence of comparisons

5. Realization of SI Units
6. Calibration Intervals
7. Measurement Assurance Measurement
Realization of SI Uncertainty
units Technical Periodic
Competence Recalibration
1.

Unbroken Chain
of Comparisons
Measurand:
Quantity intended to be measured
(artifact sent in for calibration)

• Able to trace back to the SI unit

• Note: 7 essential elements must

be established and maintained at
each level of the traceability
hierarchy !
2.

Measurement
Uncertainty
• Scope, Precision, Accuracy

Each measurement made in a

laboratory has a corresponding
uncertainty assigned to the calibration
value.

The uncertainty is directly related to

the measurement parameter (scope),
range of the measurement, the
equipment of measurement process
being used (affecting precision), and
the standards available with
associated uncertainties.
..cont’d
• Example: calibration of a mass
standard.

• Uncertainty components:
• Uncertainty associated with the
standard.
• Standard deviation of the process.
(use of a check standard)
• Uncertainty associated with drift
(from the balance)
• Uncertainty associated with
allowable sensitivity error.
• Uncertainty associated with air
buoyancy.
• Uncertainty associated with bias.
3.
Documented
Procedures
• Meet the needs of the customer

• Appropriate for the calibrations or

inspections

• Per national, internation, regional

guidelines and specifications (ISO
17025 requirements)

• Document what you do and do

what you document !
4.
Accredited
Technical
Competence
NIST Training Requirements:
• Fundamentals of Metrology (1 week)
• Mass Metrology (2 weeks)
• Volume work (1 week)
• Completion of Laboratory Auditing
Program (LAP) Problems
• Annual Submission for recertification
• on-the-job training
• NIST webinars
• Midwest Metrology Conferences
(MidMap) – annually
• Representative(s) from each
Midwestern state laboratory

• Proficiency Testing (PT’s)

• Covering artifacts on your Scope
5.

Realization of SI
Units
• The realization of a unit of
measure is the conversion of its
definition into reality.
• To one of the SI Units 

• Example: mass – kilogram

• Realization of the kilogram consists of
making weights equal in mass to the
mass of the prototype of the kilogram.
The prototype is kept by BIPM, and the
various nations adhering to the Metre
Convention have copies which from
time to time they send to Sèvres for
comparison with the prototype or with
the Bureau’s copies of the prototype.
• Following certain guidelines
• SP 811,Guide for the Use of
International System of Units (SI)
• following proper unit
conversions, etc.
• NIST HB 105-1 Specifications and
Tolerances for Reference Standards
6.

Calibration
Intervals
• WI Metrology Laboratory has
adopted NIST Good Measurement
Practices, GMP 11 “Assignment
and Adjustment of Calibration
Intervals”

• We have modified some

calibration intervals, and justified
by:
• Analysis of measurement assurance
data
• Surveillance assessments
• Stability studies
• Inter-laboratory comparisons or
proficiency testing
7.

Measurement
Assurance
Measurement Assurance may include:
• Measurement uncertainty
• Check Standards and Control
Charts
• Means to monitor and identify any
trends and drifts

• Participation in inter-laboratory
comparison or proficiency testing
programs
• Retesting or recalibration of
retained items
• Correlation of results for different
characteristics of an item
Key Benefits of metrological traceability?
Ensuring metrological traceability
enables full confidence to be held
in the truth of measurement
results.
Ensures that the measurements
will be equivalent to those made
using different instruments from
different suppliers.
Eliminate risk, error, and
uncertainty in a measurement.
Traceability Resources